Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



J..BOYNT0N. v Breech-loading Fire-arm- Patented Nov` 27, 1860.

Witnesses:

N. PETERS, PHOTO LITNDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C,

rect description thereof, reference being had UNITED STATES JOHN BOYNTON, OF EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,714, dated November27, 1860.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BoYNToN, of the town of East Hartford, countyof Hartford, and State of Connecticut,have invented new and usefulImprovements in the Mode of Constructing Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a corto the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar method of formingthe breech part and attachments to a rifle or other nre-arm.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of the breech partof the ride, showing the discharging arrangements as they appear whenloaded and before being cocked. Fig. 2 is also a longitudinal section,as before, showing the appearance of the lever, &c., in the act ofeocking. Fig. 3 is a view of the ball and stem, Fig. 4, a view of thedetached breech and ball when charged for operation, Fig. 5, atransverse section of the breech.

The general construction of my rifle-barrel and the stock are in thecustomary manner. My improvements are as follows, viz At the breech endof the barrel A, in the part where the stock commences, I make a recessto contain the lock and the series f movements required for operatingand discharging.

The lever B is constructed with a toothed rack and pinion, D, at theinner end, working on a center-pin, and matching into the teeth of thetraveling ratchet O, to operate and actuate the same. This ratchet Cforms the front or forward hammer land drives in the breech K andcharge. The pinion D also works in the teeth of the lever or cover E,which is to cover up the space or opening formed to pass in the detachedbreech and charge K. Vhen the breech and charge are forced into theirplace, the lever B must be again pressed down, and it will then bringback the ratchet against the hammer F, which, being attached to themainspring H, recoils till the notch in the back part passes over andonto the pin P, and thus forms the cocking arrangement.

The mainspring H is composed of acurved spring, attached at the back endto the fixed pin D, and at front end-to the pin in the lower part of thehammer F, and forms the triggerguard, as well as spring.

The detonating-pin I passes longitudinally through the center of theratchet-hammer O and into` the center of the hammer F, to a hole, R,formed vertically in the same. It is the back part of this hole thatstrikes against the end of the detonating-pin I and drives it forwardagainst the priming, to cause the eX- plosion of the charge. The triggerG is of simple construction, vibrating on a centerpin, and when pulledlifts up the hammer F from the pin l). The detonating-pin I is pointedat the forward end, to penetrate the primingy placed in or on the end ofthe stem M of the ball L, or some other similar device. In the end ofthe forward hammer, C, I form a recess to receive a packing, S. Thispacking is to ease the blow of the hammer against the end of the breechK when pressing inl the same, and also assists in the prevention of theescape of the gas when discharged.

The detached and adjustable breech K, I ymake of good, tough steel, inthe form as described in the drawings, hollowed out to receive thecharge of powder R and the ball L, with a touch-hole in the rear end forthe priming. This breech K is about three-fourths of an inch indiameter, and fits in the bore of the barrel at the end of thelock-recess, with a beveled and tight joint, and is pressed home tightby the force of the hammer C, actuated by the lever B. Y

The ball L, I make witha wedge-shaped forward part and concave at thebackend, to fit into the detached and adjustablebreech K. In the centerof the same I insert orcast in a pin or stem, M, with a head on it toprevent its drawing out. This stem M extends .to the touch-hole at theend of the detached breech, and is hollowed out at the end to receivethe priming for the detonating-pin I to strike against. The utility ofthis stem M is to balance the ball in its flight, and to cause the peintof the ball to be always in advance, thereby causing an increase ofspeed,power, and distance, (upon the principle of an arrow.)

The combined Aarrangement of all the parts combination, actua-ted by thelever B in the described forms a complete and substantial manner asherein described. breech-loading rifle, simple in construction andperfect in operation. JOHN BOYNTON' What I claim as my invention, anddesire Vitness'es: to secure by Letters Patent, is- WM. VINE,

The rack C, pinion D, and limilispring H, in I T. A. STORRS.

